) 
About
me page
Home Wallpaper and Borders Dictionary
A glossary of wallpaper terms used in the wallcovering industry.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Go back to top •
Abstract
Art that is not an accurate representation of a natural form or object.
The art can be differed in many ways including the shape, color, and
form.
Acanthus
A motif derived from the large leaf of the
low-growing acanthus plant. Used at an early date by the Greeks for
architectural scrolls on the capitals of the Corinthian column.
Accent Wall
The wall in a room which has been given
special design emphasis to attract attention from the adjacent walls.
Acrylic
A family of plastic resins which can be used in making synthetic fibers,
for surface coating or as pigment binder.
Aeration of adhesives
A condition that exists when the adhesive is filled with miniature air
bubbles, frequently caused by extreme or vigorous whipping during the
mixing procedure. This must be avoided for the reason that it may cause
small
blisters to form underneath the wallcovering, especially when
installing a
non-breathable type.
All-over pattern
The typical effect produced by a wallcovering. A
pattern in which the units of design are evenly distributed over a
surface, without undue emphasis.
American single roll
A quantity of wallpaper between 34 to 36 square
feet. The width of the roll is usually 20.5 inches, however, it can be
up to 36 inches wide. The length ranges from 4 to 7 yards. (Compare to
metric single roll)
Appliqué (Applique)
A design or ornament applied to another surface.
In wallpaper, cut-outs applied to a plain, textured or figured
background.
Anaglypta
A Greek word meaning "raised ornament". When speaking about wallpaper,
it refers to a type that is
embossed or textured, looking like ornate plasterwork. Anaglypta
wallpaper is available only in white; it must be painted after hanging.
Antimocrobal
Compound commonly added to a coating to inhibit the growth of bacteria,
fungi and algae on the surface of a finished product.
Architrave
The molding that surrounds a door, arch, or window. Also known as
Casing.
Art Deco
An art movement, largely from the 1920's and 1930's, that is
characterized by the use of angular, symmetrical geometric forms.
Bandbox designs
Motifs taken from hatboxes or bandboxes of the
early 19th century which were covered with wallpaper, usually of a
romantic or topical nature.
Baroque
A style of decoration, art and architecture that
evolved in Italy during the late 16th century and spread to other parts
of Europe in the 17th. The style is characterized by sweeping curves,
dramatic scale, and a general effect of fantastic opulence.
Baseboard
See
Skirting.
Basket weave design
A pattern or arrangement that simulates the over-and-under weaving
effect of basket weaving.
Batik Blank stock (Backing paper) Bleeding Block Printing Blooming Blister Bolt Booking Borders Breathable Bridging liner Butted seam (Butt joint) Casing Cellulose paste Centering Chair rail Chalk line Chevron Chinoiserie Choke Colorways Contemporary Cork Cornice Coordinating wallpaper Crown Molding
Damask Dead corner Documentary wallpapers Double cutting Double roll Drop Drop match Dry hanging Dry strippable Dye lot Faux Fill Flock (Flocked) Floral prints or patterns Focal point Foils Fret Frieze Glass textile wallcovering Gothic Grasscloth Ground Header Strip Hemp Intensity Jacobean Jute weave Lamination Lap Seam Lining paper Lotus Matching Matte finish Medallion Metric single roll Medallion Metal wallpaper Metallic Moiré (Moire) Molding Monochromatic Motif Murals Muted colors Neoclassicism (Neo-classicism) Neutral colors Non-breathable Ombre stripe Open time Outside corner Overlapping Seam Pad grounds Paisley Palmette Panel decoration Paper backed vinyl Patina Pattern drop Pattern match Pattern repeat Peelable Photo Murals Plaid Prepasted paper
A non-directional geometric type design with an East Indian
influence. The background has a tie-dyed appearance. The word itself
refers to a method of dyeing designs on cloth by coating with removable
wax the parts not to be dyed.
See
Liner paper.
In printing, a spreading of pigment beyond the
design outline or the appearance of one color through another.
The process of producing a pattern on a wallcovering by means of wood blocks into which the design is cut. For
the most par it has been replaced by silk screening.
A hazy or foggy appearance due to the
incompatibility of son of the compounds in the coating or plastic
sheeting.
A small bubble (air pocket) which forms under the wallpaper during the
installation. Blisters are usually caused by: (a) inadequate soaking or
relaxing time after the adhesive has been applied to the backing; (b)
installation temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit; (c) air trapped
between the wall and the paper; (d) wallpaper installed on an extremely
porous wall that was not properly sealed; or (e)
aeration of the adhesive.
A continuous roll of wallpaper, packaged as one
unit. It contains a quantity of paper equivalent to two single rolls of
paper.
When applying paste onto wallpaper, the procedure of temporarily
folding, not creasing, pasted surfaces on to each other for easier
handling and allowing time for the adhesive to soak into the paper,
keeping it tacky until ready to hang. It allows the wallcovering to
relax, which helps to prevent stretching and shrinking that can cause
seams to show. Also known as Accordion folding.
A decorative strip of wallpaper which
traditionally has been used as a chair rail or in combination with a
chair rail. Because of the wide variety of designs and widths now
available, borders are also used along ceiling lines, along the
baseboard, around doors and windows, and in any manner that a trim could
be used.
Wallcoverings that allow water and air to pass through. String
wallpaper, vinyl-coated paper, and paintable woven fiberglass
wallcoverings are breathable.
Porous under-wallcovering material designed to cover irregularities on
walls or smooth surfaces, such as brick or paneling, to hang decorative
wallpaper. This material may also be painted though many will want to
hang liner paper over the bridging material for a smoother surface.
Most common type of wallcovering seam in which the edge of two strips of
wallcovering are tightly butted together without any overlay or spacing
between the strips.
See
Architrave.
A type of wallpaper paste generally used for
non-vinyl wallcovering.
Placing the dominant part of a wallpaper pattern on a focal point in a
room, such as the middle of a fireplace.
A strip of decorative wood molding set 32 to 36 inches above the floor.
A length of string covered in chalk dust, pulled tight, and snapped
against a surface to leave a straight guideline.
A geometric form composed of a horizontal or vertical string of V's used
either singly or in a series to form a zig zag. Also called saw tooth
for its tooth-like protrusions.
A French term that describes the influence of Chinese design in wall
coverings and fabrics. Usually represented by graceful, flowing floral
designs with birds, and branches. Subdued tones or rich, multi-colors
are used.
The background area of the wallpaper. Also called the ground.
The various color choices for a specific pattern of wallpaper.
A synonym for modern, frequently preferred
because it suggests that which is distinctly of today rather than what
belongs to the chrome and glass modernistic decorative art of the
twenties.
They have natural textures with no definite pattern or design. Cork
veneer is shaved from cork planks of blocks and laminated to a substrate
that may be colored or plain. Cork naturally absorbs sound, insulates,
provides contrast and can be used as a bulletin board.
A moulding that runs round the ceiling at the top of a wall.
Wallpaper patterns which complement each other due to color and design.
They are often used over and under each other as companions, or they
visually tie together two different rooms.
Ornamental strip of wood that lies along the ceiling line.
Dado
The wall space between the
chair rail and the baseboard.
Patterns imitating stylized textiles, usually
monochromatic in color with floral, foliage or
swag themes.
An inconspicuous spot where you can place the mismatched last sheets of
a wallcovering. Also, known as the kill point.
Replica historic wallpaper.
This technique is sometimes used by professionals to obtain a perfectly
fitted seam when a pattern does not need to be matched. Strips are
overlapped about three inches, and a very sharp blade is used to cut
through both layers. The top strip is peeled back, the bottom strip is
peeled off, and then the top is adhered again to the wall. This
technique is also used when making repairs.
A bolt of two single rolls of wallpaper, in a continuous strip. The
double roll, or bolt, is priced as two single rolls but is packaged as
one unit or length of paper to minimize waste.
A length of wallcovering cut to fit a specific space. A full drop runs
from the ceiling to the baseboard and includes allowances for trimming.
Also called a sheet or strip.
A design in which the pattern is staggered rather than straight across.
The pattern at the top is the same on every other strip of wallcovering.
There is waste with the drop matching of large scale patterns,
therefore, when dealing with a drop match, paper hangers use the
technique of measuring and cutting adjacent strips from different rolls
of wallcovering and alternating them. Also so known as a pattern drop.
Method of hanging wallcoverings in which the adhesive is applied to the
wall instead of the back of the wallcovering.
Describes a wallpaper that can be pulled off the wall without first
treating it with a wetting agent.
A particular batch of wallpaper rolls that are printed at the same time.
All rolls should be from the same dye lot to insure uniformity. Also
called a run.
Embossed
Wallpaper that has a raised, textured effect. This is done during
manufacture when a hot or cold embossing machine at the factory presses
a design into the back of the paper. Generally, a seam roller is not
used on this paper. In-register emboss is the technique whereby the ink
colors are applied at the time the paper is being embossed, generally
resulting in a pattern of embossing that duplicates the printed pattern.
A French word for "imitation". In wallpapers, it usually applies to
designs that imitate actual textures such as
wood and
stone.
The main wall area between the
chair rail and
frieze of a wall, also known as a sidewall.
Wallcovering made by a machine that shakes very fine cotton, silk, rayon
or nylon fibers from a hopper over a pattern printed in varnish or slow
drying paint, to create the appearance of cut velvet,
damask, or create a three dimensional effect.
Any wallpaper pattern or design with recognizable flowers printed as the
decorative surface.
The first wall you see upon entering a room. If a room has multiple
entries, the main focal wall is the one facing the room's dominate flow
of traffic.
Constructed by
laminating a thin sheet of aluminum onto a
substrate of paper or scrim. Foils sometimes have a polyester sheet
between the paper backing and the foil to prevent water in the adhesive
from actually contacting the foil. They must be hung on very smooth
surfaces and require great care in handling.
A geometric band or border designs, consisting of interlacing or
interlocking lines. Also known as a key pattern.
A horizontal ornamental border along the top of a room or panel.
Generally a pictorial border that ran above, the door height or, in a
dining room, above the plate rail.
Geometric patterns
Modernist design from the 1900-1970's usually printed on non-woven
surfaces. A pattern or design characterized by straight lines,
triangles, circles, etc.
Woven with glass yarns and designed for strength, health, safety, and
designed versatility. They are paintable, decorative and a functional
wallcovering for interior wall and ceiling surfaces.
A style of architecture developed in northern France that spread
throughout Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries; characterized by
slender vertical piers and counterbalancing buttresses and by rib
vaulting and pointed arches and a developing emphasis on verticality and
the impression of height.
Originally a handcrafted product imported from Japan, usually made by
glueing grasses or vines on to a paper backing. Also, printed or
dimensional wallpapers simulating same.
The background area of the wallpaper. Also called the choke.
A strip of wallcovering that is allocated to be hung above a door or
window.
Wallpaper made from the fibers of the hemp plant. It resembles
grasscloth with a finer weave.
The strength of a color.
Style influenced by crewel work imported from India. Developed from
Tudor and Elizabethan styles.
Wallpaper made by using jute, a strong coarse fiber that is used in
making burlap.
The process of building up thin layers of materials and bonding them
together as one product under heat and pressure with an adhesive added.
A method of hanging wallpaper in which strips overlap slightly.
Primarily used on commercial goods.
A special paper, also called blank stock, usually applied horizontal and
used under wallcoverings. Benefits of use include, smoother surface for
final wallcovering, serves as an excellent porous base for decorative
wallpaper, and sets (bonds) the seams and controls the
expansion/contraction process (moisture and vapor bubble reduction).
One of the oldest of all decorative motifs, utilizing the water lilies
of the Nile River.
Joining two strips of wallpaper so that the pattern lines up correctly.
A dull or flat finish.
A decorative element confined within a round, oval, square or
rectangular outline.
A metric roll contains 28 to 30 square feet per single roll. It is
usually 21 inches wide and 16 feet long, or can be 27 inches wide and 13
feet long. Also known as a euro roll. (Compare to American single roll)
A decorative element confined within a round, oval, square or
rectangular outline.
Wallcoverings with a real metal surface.
Wallpaper that gives the appearance of a sheet metal or foil.
Wallpaper having a watery silk sheen or wood grain effect embossed on
the decorative surface.
An ornamental strip of wood or plaster that protrudes from a ceiling or
wall surface.
Of one color, sometimes in different light to dark values.
The recurring design or subject matter of a wallpaper pattern.
Wall coverings with a pictorial design that continues over two or more
strips of wallpaper and is intended to cover part or most of a wall
without repeat. These scenes may be photographic, digital, custom, hand,
or machine printed. Cleaning care and durability widely varies depending
on the manufacturing technique and materials used. Also called scenics.
Any colors with brightness that has been lessened or moderated, often by
their complementary colors.
Natural fibers
Natural materials, such as bamboo,
jute, rice paper, silk,
cork,
reed,
sisal, cotton, and grass are
laminated to a paper backing. They are usually unpasted. They
provide a natural and textured character to decoration and are available
in an extensive variety of color combinations.
Reviving the unemotional ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. Its rigidity
was a reaction to the over bred elegance and elaborate Rococo style and
the emotional charged Baroque style.
Beiges, whites, grays, and browns. Colors which coordinate well with
most other colors.
Wallcovering with this characteristic does not allow water and air to
freely pass through its surface. Solid vinyl and foils are not
breathable.
Striped wallpaper where one color is used in several values, giving it a
blurred or bleeding out look.
The time period available between the activation and application of
adhesives until they dry.
A corner formed when two walls, not facing each other, are joined and
protrude into the room.
A method of hanging wallcovering in which strips overlap slightly.
Primarily used on commercial goods.
Wallpaper that has been printed in one operation, with the design
printed on a wet background.
Printed with colorful curved abstract figures of Persian origin.
Fan-shaped ornamental motif resembling either a palm leaf or a loose
cluster of honeysuckle flowers. A band of palmettes is called an
anthemion.
Style of wallcovering which developed in the second half of the 18th
century, designed to be framed in the wood paneled walls. Today they are
used as spot decorations and framed with molding.
Solid vinyl layer of material is
laminated or bonded to a paper-backing sheet. This type of
wallcovering is very durable since the decorative surface is a solid
sheet of vinyl, making it scrubbable and peelable. Paper backed vinyl
can be used in most areas of the home since it resists moisture and is
stain and grease resistant. However, this type of wallpaper will not
withstand hard physical abuse. Also known as solid sheet vinyl.
Often associated with the green film that forms on copper and bronze.
See
Drop match.
The alignment of wallpapering strips at the edges so that the design
makes a continuous horizontal, vertical, or diagonal flow of pattern
around the room.
The distance between identical parts of a wallpaper's pattern in a
straight vertical line.
Describes wallpaper in which the decorative surface and ground can be
separated from the backing. The backing remains on the wall, but should
be removed before hanging a new wallcovering or painting a wall. Note
important differences between "peelable" and "strippable" wallcoverings.
Wallpaper that simulates photography that is enlarged to be placed on a
room-sized wall or door. Photo murals are usually divided into quarter
panels for installation purposes, and portray scenes such as
waterfalls,
forest scenes,
seashores,
cities, or
outer space.
Designs consisting of crossed stripes, many of them originating in
Scottish tartans.
Wallpaper with paste already on the backing, which can be activated by
soaking it in a filled water tray. The directions for each individual
paper must be followed to determine proper soaking and booking time.
Pretrimmed
Paper which has had the selvage edges removed during the manufacturing
process. Almost all wallpaper is pretrimmed.
Primer
Are applied to make the
substrate more uniform for acceptance and improve the adhesion of
the topcoat. Not all primers will allow the wallpaper to slide easily
during installation. Primers will improve the removability of the
wallcovering and decrease the chances of wall damage.
Prints
Any decorative or textural effect added over the base sheet. Each print
adds one other color.
Provincial
Refers to designs inspired by the native arts and crafts of Europe and
America in colonial days.
• Go back to top •
Railroading
The horizontal application of wallpaper. This is used to create an
unusual or striking effect, an example is a stripe hung horizontal.
Random match
Describes a design in which the pattern doesn't align at vertical edges
in a regular fashion. Stripes, all-over textures, and grasscloths are
good examples.
Reedcloth
A handcrafted wallcovering in which every individual reed is inserted
into the cotton warp threads of a hand made loom.
Relief
Making a design prominent by raising it or by cutting away the surface
or background of the design.
Repeat
The distance from the center of an identical element in a motif or
pattern to the next.
Reverse Hanging
Technique of paperhanging where each strip is alternately hung "right
side up" and "upside down" in papers with a random match. This is used
to negate or lessen the effects of shading problems on the edges of
those wallcoverings, if applicable.
Rigid Vinyl Acrylic
This product is used in areas where there is a potential for high-impact
concerns such as hospital corridors, high traffic areas in commercial
buildings and the hospitality environment where movable carts are used.
Rococo
It is characterized by opulence, grace, playfulness, and lightness in
contrast to the heavier themes and darker colors of the earlier
Baroque period. Rococo
motifs focused on the carefree aristocratic life and on lighthearted
romance rather then heroic battles or religious figures.
Rosette
A motif formed by a series of petals or leaves arranged around a central
point. These are conventionalized to form a circle, eclipse or square.
Run
Same as dye lot. A particular batch of wallpaper rolls that are printed
or run at the same time. All rolls should be from the same dye lot or
run to insure uniformity. Each time the same wallpaper is printed again,
it receives a different dye lot or run number.
Scenics
See
Murals.
Screen-printed
Involves the use of
stencils to transfer the design. Paint is applied to a frame of
stretched silk, polyester, or nylon screen and penetrates areas of the
screen not blocked by the stencil pattern. By using several stencils,
many colors can be added to form successive layers in a single print.
Also known as handprints, silk screening, hand screening, and
serigraphy.
Scrubbable
This wallcovering can withstand occasional sponging with a detergent
solution. Same as washable.
Sculptured Wallcovering
See
Anaglypta.
Seam
Areas where two wall coverings are joined.
Seam roller
A small, narrow plastic, felt, or wooden roller used to secure the seams
of wallpaper to make them adhere to the wall when dry. This is done by
rolling or pressing the seams after the paper has been applied to the
wall and the air bubbles, if any, are smoothed away. Stringcloth,
grasscloth,
flock, and heavily
embossed wallpaper are examples of product that would be damaged by
the use of a seam roller.
Self-tone
Wallcovering in which shades of one color are featured.
Selvage
The blank edge of a wallcovering. Used for markings that maintain
registration during printing, plus protects the design during shipment.
Semi-automated wallcoverings
The selvages are partially severed and can be detached easily, or, the
wallcoverings are fully trimmed on one edge only.
Shading
Effect that can sometimes appear along the seams of patterned or
textured wall coverings due to heavier ink coverage at one edge than the
other during printing.
Reverse hanging can often solve this problem.
Sidewall
Sheets of wallpaper, as opposed to borders or murals.
Single Cut
What you do to seam a sheet that is wet with a sheet that has already
dried. This technique mainly applies to sidewall paper and borders. You
overlay the wet sheet on the dry sheet, use a smoother or putty knife to
force the impression line of the underlying dry seam and then with the
feel of your fingertips and a single edge blade, you cut a butted seam
using the creased line as your guide.
Size (Sizing)
In the case of plaster walls, it will prevent too much paste from being
absorbed into the wall. Its use on drywall applications is not so much
to prepare the wall, but to provide added adhesion for the final
installation of wallpaper. It usually comes in the form of a white
powder that is mixed with water according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Another form of size is to coat the walls with a thinned
down version of the adhesive that ultimately be used in the installation
of the wall covering. Many wallpaper manufacturers specifically request
its usage on any wall type though it is traditionally associated with
plaster walls.
Skirting
Narrow board that runs round the base of walls. Also known as baseboard.
Sliding cut
A method of cutting wallpaper by sliding a sharp knife along the edge of
a surface under it.
Smoothing brush (Smoother)
Used to smooth out wrinkles or air from behind wallpaper during
installation. Most often used on delicate wallpaper.
Solid sheet vinyl
See
Paper backed vinyl.
Stain-resistant
Describes a wallcovering coated with an acrylic, plastic, or vinyl that
does not absorb stains.
Stencil
A method of applying a design by brushing ink or paint through a cut out
surface.
Straight across match
Describes a design in which the pattern aligns horizontally at
single-roll intervals. This means that the pattern design at the top of
each strip is always the same.
Straight edge
A six foot or seven foot ruler used by a paperhanger to trim the
selvage off of the wallpaper.
String effect
Wallpaper that have very fine vertical threads
laminated to a paper type
substrate. Threads may be of a man made material or natural fiber
such as silk or linen. These wall coverings should not be subjected to
abuse and require great care in their cleaning.
Strip
See
Drop.
Strippable
Wallpaper manufactured with a special formulation which permits a
release of the wallpaper from the adhesive when it is later to be
removed from the wall. This makes it easy to tear off an entire strip
without wetting it. Also referred to as dry strippable.
Substrate
The backing of a wallpaper. It is
laminated to the bottom of the design layer.
Swag
Swinging or suspended decoration, representing garlands, drapery,
ribbons or leaves.
Swatch
A sample cutting of wallpaper or fabric.
Tint
A color produced when a pigment is mixed with white.
Top colors
Those forming the design against the ground color.
Toile de Jouy (Toile)
A fabric style that originated in the village of Jouy-en-Josas, near
Paris. These designs typically resemble finely engraved copper etchings;
use one color on a solid ground, and originally had a narrative element
- such as a pastoral scene or motifs from classical mythology. Today,
this technique can be used for any number of designs including floral
trails, birds, or even palm trees.
Trimming
Using a straight edge and a blade to remove excess paper from around
door, windows, ceilings and at the baseboard.
Trompe L'oeil (Loeil)
French term meaning to "fool the eye". Wall coverings that utilize this
technique include designs that use light and shadow to convince you that
you are seeing a three-dimensional object. Some wallpaper designs that
have been successful are those that simulate draped fabric, trees,
bookshelves, moiré silks, and murals and accents that feature a window
or door with a view.
Unpasted wallpaper
Wallpaper to which paste must be rolled or brushed on during the
installation process. Directions provided with each individual wallpaper
must be followed.
Untrimmed
Describes wallpaper with intact
selvages, not factory-trimmed.
Value
Lightness or darkness of a color.
Vertical repeat
The vertical distance from one point on the design to the identical
point again. Almost all wallpaper has a vertical repeat, except for
those papers with a random match.
Vinyl
A manmade material, which in the manufacture of wallcoverings is a
flexible film. Wallpaper is often vinyl coated, or it is vinyl laminated
to a backing. This helps to give the product washability.
Wainscot
Paneling or woodwork covering the dado of a wall. This area is
customarily equal to one third of the wall height.
Wallpaper trough
A specially shaped container designed to hold water for soaking
prepasted papers before hanging.
Warm colors
Red, yellow, or orange, or any color to which yellow has been added.
Washable
Describes a wallpaper that can be cleaned with mild detergent and water
applied with a sponge or soft cloth.
Wet hanging
A method of hanging wallcoverings in which the adhesive is applied to
the back of the wallcovering.
